Fornes between the Reservoir, History and Hiking Trails

Fornes lies at the end of the Bermejales Reservoir; the district of La Colonia is located on its shores. When planning a trip, the landscape, history, nature, festivals and cuisine can serve as different ways of experiencing Fornes.

Landscape

La Mesa de Fornes is a 4.5-hectare fortified protohistoric settlement that was inhabited mainly between the 9th and 8th centuries BC. The table-shaped mesa was formed by the fluvial erosion of the Cacín, Cebollón and Grande rivers. La Mesa de Fornes can be reached via marked paths.

Those looking for a holiday apartment in Fornes can compare travel dates, room categories and cancellation policies on the respective offer pages. When planning your trip, you can weigh the aforementioned local attractions separately.

Hiking and Nature

The Fornes–La Resinera hiking trail begins in Fornes at the steps leading to the Cruz del Cerrillo. After descending from La Mesa de Fornes, the trail reaches the Cacín River amid stands of holm oak and Valencian oak. It follows the Cacín and then the Cebollón through riparian vegetation and Mediterranean scrubland; native crayfish and brown trout can be observed in the clear waters. Fuente Barranco can be reached easily via rural roads and offers hikers a cool place to rest.

The trails can also be considered a separate focus of activity alongside historical sites and regional dishes.

History and Culture

The complex fortification system of La Mesa de Fornes comprises six roughly rectangular bastions and a small ditch located immediately along their flank. In the area around Fornes, the remains of the Fábrica Unión Resinera Española can be found in La Resinera. In the area around Fornes, an information point in La Resinera explains how the natural resources of the pine forest were used industrially.

Fornes has medieval origins and is mentioned as “Fórnex” in the work of the geographer Al-Jatib, who came from Loja. The historical heritage of Fornes stems from the various cultures that shaped this borderland, especially Muslim culture.

Festivals

The festivals of Fornes take place every year around 19 March in honor of the local patron saint, San José. The traditional Candelarias are celebrated on the night before 2 February and include the Mancheo, during which torches made of esparto grass are swung in circles of fire. The Romería de Santiago takes place on the Saturday closest to 25 July; decorated floats travel to the river for the occasion.

Cuisine

Fornes’s culinary traditions include artisanally produced sausages and cheese; honey and olive oil are widely used in local cuisine. Local dishes mentioned in connection with Fornes include “plato alpujarreño,” “ajo blanco” and “habas con jamón”; restaurants and bars offer visitors insights into the local cuisine.

For the overarching travel overview: Arenas Del Rey.